Horizon Campus Facilitates for Latest Trends in Microbiological Research
Antibiotics are chemical compounds produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another. It’s used as a medicine to fight infections caused by bacteria in both humans and animals. Antibiotics are also a term amongst the most common phrases used in the Sri Lankan society. From mild cold to the most severe fever, locals consume antibiotics at their own discretion without prior consultation from a medical practitioner. When the world started to think it’s much safer, the arrival of the mutated bacteria that become antibiotic-resistant turned the table around. These bacteria may infect humans and animals, and the infections they cause are harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria.
Antibiotic resistance is escalating to dangerously high levels throughout all parts of the world. New resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading globally, threatening our ability to treat common infectious diseases. A growing list of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, blood poisoning and gonorrhea – are becoming harder, and sometimes impossible, to treat as antibiotics become less effective.
Researchers have discovered 76 previously unknown genes that make bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics. The genes were found while searching large volumes of bacterial DNA. The findings showed that several of these resistance genes can provide bacteria with the ability to degrade carbapenems - most powerful class of antibiotics used to treat multi-resistant bacteria. The next step for the research groups is to search for genes that provide resistance to other forms of antibiotics. However, there’s an alternative method to apply natural extracts of plants with the medicinal value used in oriental medicine. Most facts remain a mystery due to lack of research.
Horizon campus, being the most accredited non-state university in Sri Lanka has taken necessary steps to include such research areas integrated into the research components of the Undergraduate students who enroll for a degree on B.Sc (Hons) in Biotechnology awarded by Nilai University, Malaysia. Undergraduates follow a module termed Research methods and design which demonstrates the pathway to select the suitable research design in either field or lab for dissertation research. In order to come up with innovative research proposals students are well briefed on the modules, they cover such as Biotechnology, Industrial Microbiology, Drugs and Pharmaceutical Technology
Well-equipped, state of the art laboratories for Bioscience, Tissue culture and Chemistry provides students an excellent platform and a workspace to pursue their research imagination into a reality. Students who recently excelled in research fields can be denoted as,
Mr. Lakshan Yatiwela together with Ms. Danushika Nayomi presented their research work at the 4th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches held in Sri Lanka. Their study was on “Antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts of Zanthoxylum rhetsa. ROXB against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Evaluation of Radical Scavenging Activity” with relevance to Medical microbiology field.
Ms. Tarinija Gopalakrishnan presented her research work at International Conference on Drug Discovery and Development bearing the title “Antibacterial activity against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and selected pharmacology properties of “panchawalkala”: an ayurvedic formulation” which combines Natural products and microbiology fields.
By encouraging and guiding the students with highly qualified panel of staff, Horizon campus wishes to address the challenges that may face during the next few years’ time.
The 8th Intake for Diploma and Bachelors of Sciences (Hons) in Biotechnology started on 19th October successfully. With a limited number of seats available until the 30th October, there’s an opportunity for Science enthusiast who wishes to take the challenges in Biotechnology and accomplishing their dream to become future Scientists.